One of the most important forms of classical music is without a doubt the sonata. The meaning of the term “sonata”, which is derived from the Italian word “sonare” which means “to sound” or “to play”, has changed considerably over time. Browse our sheet music and scores, grab your all your favourites, and find out more about the sonata here today!
The term “sonata” derives from the second half of the 16th century, and refers to different types of instrumental compositions for two or more instruments. The term came about to distinguish the sonata from solo pieces for keyboard instruments, and from pieces with singing, such as cantatas.
The main difference between the baroque sonata and the classical sonata is the number of movements, the baroque sonata has at least four or more, in which slow and fast tempos alternate regularly. The baroque sonata is divided into two basic types:
Sonata da camera (“Chamber Sonata”) – which has a light dance character and is the predecessor of the baroque dance suite.
Sonata da chiesa (“Church sonata”) – which is usually in four movements and has a more serious character.
Depending on the size of the line-up, Baroque sonatas can be further subdivided into Solo Sonata for one instrument (usually violin) and basso continuo, and Trio Sonata for two solo instruments and basso continuo.
One of the most well-known composers of the Baroque sonata is the Italian composer Arcangelo Corelli (1653-1713). Both the Church Sonatas by Corelli and the Chamber Sonatas by Corelli are still very popular with instrumentalists and listeners today.
At the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries, the sonata da chiesa gradually evolved into what is known as the Neapolitan overture, where the introductory slow movement has been removed. The result was a three-movement form, with the tempo structure fast-slow-fast within each movement, which became the model not only for the classical sonata, but also for many other musical forms.
The Italian composer Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757) contributed a great deal to the development of the sonata. The Sonatas by Scarlatti were usually composed in the traditional sonata form, a one-movement work with two contrasting themes.
During the Classical period, the sonata continued to develop and evolve. At that time, the term “sonata” was mainly understood to mean Piano Sonatas, or sonatas for another solo instrument with piano accompaniment. In its basic form, a classical sonata consists of three, or occasionally four movements, where the first fast movement is written in ’sonata form’, the second movement is slower, and the third movement is usually fast again, and can take various forms.
In a four-movement sonata, a dance movement in the form of a minuet or a scherzo is usually inserted before the last movement. The greatest exponents of the sonata were arguably three composers of the first Viennese school, Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart " 1972" text="Ludwig van Beethoven. Beethoven’s most famous sonata is without a doubt the Moonlight Sonata.
for: Oboe
Music score
Item no.: 117666
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1043050
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 465657
for: Classical guitar
Music score
Item no.: 338067
Bd 4: Sonaten 10-12
for: Flute
Music score, CD
Item no.: 203289
for: ABFL OB 2 VL BC
Item no.: 200533
für Flöte (Altblockflöte) und Bc
for: Flute, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 200354
aus: Musicalische Divertissements, Teil IV
for: Flute, violin, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 628029
für Blockflöte und Bc (Cembalo)
Spielpartituren mit Faksimile (Bc nicht ausgesetzt)
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, piano
2 Performance scores
Item no.: 627170
pour 2 Basse-Viole da gamba (2 Vc, 2 Fag) TWV40:118-123
for: 2 bass-viole da gamba [cellos/bassoons]
2 Performance scores
Item no.: 622710
Chacone by Mr. D Purcell für
Altblockflöte und Bc
for: HOLZBLASINSTRUMENTE BLOCKFLÖTE MIT TASTENINSTRUMENT ALT-BLOCKFLÖTE UND KLAVIER
Item no.: 280715
Thema, Variationen, Menuett, Alla Turca
for: Violin [flute/mandolin], guitar
Ensemble score
Item no.: 433965
Six Sonatas for Viola d'amore (Viola) and Basso continuo
Volume 2
Hortus Musicus 223
for: Viola d'amore, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 122174
for: Bassoon, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 603151
für zwei Oboen, Fagott und Basso continuo
Hortus Musicus
for: 2 oboes, bassoon, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 171618
for: 2 Cellos and Piano
Book
Item no.: 163894
Heft 4
for: Treble recorder [violin], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 418210
(Urtext)
for: Flute, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 478991
for: Bassoon, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 166491
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 255210
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 177280
Transkription
for: Viola, piano
2 Performance scores
Item no.: 576962
Archivum Musicum 91
for: Cello, harpsichord
Music score
Item no.: 675259
for: Descant recorder
Music score
Item no.: 279141
for: Flute, basso continuo
Item no.: 562244
pour le viollon et pour le clavecin
Volume III: Sonata V (a), Sonata VI (A)
for: Violin, harpsichord
Score, Parts
Item no.: 141614
for flute and piano
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 404287
...I piaceri del violino...
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, part
Item no.: 459444
aus dem Walsh anon (California) Manuscript mit Verzierungen von William Babell
for: Descant (soprano) recorder [flute/oboe/violin], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 619599
for: Flute, piano
Item no.: 579125
Eliot Fisk Master Series
for: Classical guitar
Music score
Item no.: 341135
BÄRENREITER URTEXT
for: Recorder, basso continuo
Partitur, Stimmensatz, Urtextausgabe, Sammelband
Item no.: 164405
Bearbeitet für Flöte und Gitarre
for: Flute, guitar
Parts (2)
Item no.: 130983
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 200548
Musica Rara
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Item no.: 414264
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 176217
for: Clarinet (B-flat), piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 187950
Sonate a Violino e Violone o Cembalo
Strumentalismo Italiano 21
for: Violin, basso continuo
Music score (reprint)
Item no.: 326718
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 395568
for: Piano
Music score (Hardcover, Urtext edition)
Item no.: 695301
(Urtext)
for: Viola da gamba, harpsichord
Item no.: 383713
op. 18/5
for: Piano 4 hands
Music score
Item no.: 732343
Library of Russian-Soviet Music
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 318848
Edition Schott
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 732595
Edition Schott
for: Flute, basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 749367
Edition Schott
for: Flute, basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 749349
for: Treble recorder [violin], basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 418209
for: Flute, basso continuo
Item no.: 475539
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